Flexible seal element with reinforced drain labyrinth

Abstract

A flexible seal element with a reinforced drain labyrinth is disclosed for use on the outer seal ring of a seal assembly located between a roll end face and a bearing chock in a rolling mill, particularly the bearing chocks of the upper backup roll and the work rolls in a four-high mill. The seal element has a circular body portion adapted to tightly surround the outer seal ring. A first circular lip extends outwardly away from the body portion at an angle relative to the axis thereof to frictionally contact the roll end face. The seal body has a drain opening which is arranged to be aligned radially with a drainage port in the outer seal ring. The drain opening is protected by a second lip which extends outwardly from the seal body in a direction opposite to that of the first mentioned lip. A relatively stiff baffle member is attached to the seal body at a location spaced radially inwardly from the second lip. The baffle member and the second lip cooperate in providing a reinforced drain labyrinth which effectively prevents cooling water, mill scale, etc. from being centrifugally directed upwardly into the bearing from the rotating surfaces of underlying rolls.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a rolling mill wherein the neck of a roll is rotatably supported in a lubricated bearing contained in a bearing chock, with a seal assembly located between the roll end face and the bearing chock for retaining lubricant in the bearing while excluding contaminants such as cooling water, dirt and mill scale therefrom, the said seal assembly including a stationary outer seal ring spaced from the roll end face with a drainage port therein, the improvement comprising: a flexible seal element having a circular body portion adapted to tightly surround the outer seal ring, a circular first lip integral with and extending outwardly away from said body portion at an angle relative to the axis thereof, said lip being arranged to sealing contact the roll end face, a drain opening in said body portion arranged for alignment with said drainage port, a second lip on said body portion surrounding said drain opening, and a baffle member attached to said body portion, said baffle member cooperating in radially spaced relationship with said second lip to provide a sealing labyrinth at said drain opening, said baffle member being sufficiently stiff to also reinforce said body portion against distortion at said drain opening. 
     
     
       2. The seal element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second lip extends outwardly from said body portion in the opposite direction from said first mentioned lip and at an angle relative to the axis of said body portion. 
     
     
       3. The seal element as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body portion is provided with a cylindrical interior surface, and wherein said drain opening is defined in part by a sloping surface leading outwardly from said cylindrical inner surface to the outer edge of said second lip. 
     
     
       4. The seal element as claimed in claim 2 wherein said baffle member is spaced radially inwardly from said second lip. 
     
     
       5. The seal element as claimed in claim 4 wherein said body portion and said lips are integrally formed from a flexible resilient synthetic rubber material, and wherein said baffle member is comprised of an elongated metal strip with end flanges embedded in said body portion, said baffle member being arranged to reinforce said body portion against distortion at said drain opening.